Abstract: Methods and systems of establishing a network-based system for purchase and sale of at least one of an option contract and a futures contract to acquire an item or to attend an event, wherein the contract is exercisable upon the occurrence of a contingency. The contingency may relate to the presence of a particular team in a game and the location of the game. In some instances, the contingency may relate to the position of a participant in the event in the standings at a time proximate to the occurrence of the event.

Abstract: The current invention includes an improved system for an e-commerce vendor to seamlessly incorporate products and services from a third party into its own e-commerce site. This system enables the e-commerce vendor to display the third party products and to accept orders and arrange fulfillment of these products through its own site in a manner that is seamless to the end user. When the e-commerce retailer requests product information from the supplier, the supplier provides the retailer with product information and URLs at which additional information can be located. The retailer uses this information to retrieve product images, descriptions and information and to display this information to its customer on its own site. Each of these items is tagged with a unique element identifier that contains a number of details about the product. This information tagged to the product image or description enables the product to be easily identified by both the retailer and the supplier.

Abstract: An automated method and system is provided for facilitating interaction between a consumer and a merchant using a strong security framework. An offer describing a product and a predetermined means for acceptance is presented via a display. Once the offer has been presented, if the consumer accepts, the system performs various authentications, then facilitates receipt of the acceptance. The system then combines the acceptance data with identification and payment information, and transmits the relevant information to the merchant. Optionally, the system may customize the content or the presentation of the offer based on information about the targeted consumer.

Abstract: A component management system includes: a component database for registering component data regarding a plurality of components, which have been admitted to be purchased based on predetermined criteria; an e-mail server for receiving information regarding components from a component provider and for sending the received information to a person in charge of component admission. The component database is updated based on a result of selection performed based on the sent information.

Abstract: A system gathers user behavior data from a group of web retailers and/or non-web retailers, analyzes the user behavior data to identify product recommendations for products offered by the web retailers, and provides one of the identified product recommendations in connection with a product page associated with one of the web retailers.

Abstract: A purchasing entity directs the sourcing of one or more components of a part in a microprocessor-based method. The microprocessor-based method comprises generating a listing for a part that identifies the one or more components. Such a listing is stored in digital electronic form and is accessible by a microcomputer-based system. The purchasing entity then enters into a purchase agreement with a secondary supplier for at least one component of the one or more components. The purchasing entity then obtains a quotation from a primary supplier for the part with the secondary supplier specified as a supplier for at least one component. A computer system for directed sourcing that includes a computer network including one or more computers and which executes the method of the invention is also provided.

Abstract: A system and method for a manufacturer to attract a customer for a distributor, via a public access network, and perform product information and ordering transactions with the customer, where the order receives the financing approval of the distributor and an associated manufacturer's representative receives a commission. The system and method includes the customer submitting a price/quotation request or product order to a host system via the public access communications network. The host system interacts with the customer, the manufacturer and the distributor in order to fulfill the customer request. The host system retrieves a customer price for the product, where the customer price is based on a predetermined pricing function that varies depending on a customer or distributor identification. The host system may also generate an order for purchase, based on the customer's request, and transmit customer information associated with the order to the distributor for financial acceptance.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system providing support for user transactions in a media exchange network. An embodiment of the present invention may include a television display, storage, and a set top box, and may provide an interface device for receiving from a user associated authorization device, information for authorizing user transactions via a communication network. A user transaction may include the exchange, purchase, storage, or consumption of media such as, for example, audio, still images, video, and data. The communication network may include, for example, a cable infrastructure, a digital subscriber line infrastructure, a wireless infrastructure, and may be the Internet. The system may provide for the completion of the user transaction without divulging the identity of the user to a vendor.

Abstract: An electronic commerce system for use over a global communications network and having both company nodes and constituency nodes comprises a data repository and a communications controller. The data repository stores data files contain commercial information relating to the company associated with a company node. The communications controller allow a specific company node to modify commercial information in the data files relating to the respective company and to control times at which selected portions of the commercial information is first made available to the constituency nodes, propagates communication interfaces accessible by the constituency nodes with selected portions of the commercial information under direction of the company nodes, and gathers feedback information representative of constituency response to the constituency nodes accessing the communication interfaces.

Abstract: A novel multimedia system for enabling a customer to order a required product in a retail system. The multimedia system has a voice recognition mechanism for recognizing a voice input, and a display mechanism responsive to the recognized voice input for displaying images assisting the customer in ordering the product during a product ordering session. The voice recognition mechanism and the display mechanism may be elements of a product ordering terminal in a retail facility.

Abstract: A system, including apparatuses and methods, for operating a subscription-based virtual computing services provider and for providing virtual computing services to subscribers thereto. The services provider enrolls subscribers to receive subscriber-selectable virtual computing services and provides such services to subscribers in exchange for the payment of a subscription fee based, at least in part, on the particularly selected computing services. The virtual computing services are provided through a communication network and accessible via subscriber devices having different degrees of robustness and via subscriber-selected user interfaces. A virtual non-volatile storage is allocated to each subscriber in a subscriber-selected storage capacity. The virtual non-volatile storage may be used for the storage and execution of software applications therein and/or for the storage of uploadable or downloadable data therein.

Abstract: A viewer for displaying an electronic book and providing for electronic commerce. In conjunction with viewing an electronic book, a user can view information about products and services, view an on-line electronic catalog, and receive samples of products available for purchase. By entering a purchase request, the user can purchase products or services. In the case of a digital product, the user can download the purchased product directly into the viewer. The viewer also records statistics concerning purchase and information requests in order to recommend related products or services, or for directing particular types of advertisements to the user.

Abstract: A method and system for providing item sales and delivery service (see FIG. 1) consistent with the invention includes arranging over a communications system (170) a sales transaction of an item (110) between a seller (105) and a buyer (155), sending the item through a delivery system directed toward the buyer, and making a payment for at least one of the following: a purchase price of the item, a delivery fee, and a fee for any other buyer-selected delivery-related services.

Abstract: A digital content pricing apparatus may include a sales computer and a memory used to retain digital content items associated with a base price and one or more option prices, along with a final price related to the base and option prices by a final pricing formula. A method may include selecting a digital content item and at least one configuration option associated with the item, calculating the item price using appropriate adjustment factors, and calculating the final price using a final pricing formula. Pricing information, in the form of prices, adjustment factors, and formulae may be defined in meta-data descriptors included in the digital content.

Abstract: A method for use in marketing includes detecting, at a remote computer, product purchase information of a plurality of retail stores. The product purchase information includes price information. The remote computer is located remote from the retail store. The method also includes receiving, at the remote computer, a shopping list of a customer. The shopping list includes at least one item. In response to receiving the shopping list, communication to the customer of price information associated with at least one item on the shopping list for the plurality of retail stores is initiated by the remote computer.

Abstract: A system and method for a consumer to order goods and/or services from a vendor through use of an instant messaging service. The consumer initiates an instant message communication link between the consumer and the vendor by using the vendor's screen name which has been added to the consumer's list of contacts and sending an initiating message. Software resident on the vendor's computer responds to initiation of the instant message communication link by supplying a list of good and/or services to the consumer. The consumer can order from the list of goods and/or services while concurrently communicating with the vendor. An order identification number is created each time an order is placed which includes information from the consumer's screen name, the vendor's screen name and software generated information. The order identification number uniquely identifies the order and is used only once.

Abstract: Techniques for facilitating interactions between computing systems, such as by providing an electronic Web service (“WS”) marketplace via which third-party WS providers make their WSes available to third-party WS consumers who locate and purchase access to those WSes via the electronic marketplace. Some or all available WSes may have associated use prices and or non-price use conditions, and if so access to those WSes may be provided only if a consumer requesting access provides appropriate payment and otherwise satisfies the specified use conditions. In some situations, WS consumers may also purchase subscriptions to provide later access to registered WSes. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring it, and is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to anonymously request bids from a geographically centered plurality of vendors. The methods and apparatus enable a plurality of vendors to enter line card information (e.g., part numbers) and geographical information (e.g., zip codes) into a central database via a web page. Customers may then search for vendors in their area. The process automatically expands the geographical search area until a customer determined quantity of vendors are found. An anonymous e-mail message (i.e., a message not disclosing customer identity) is then sent to each selected vendor. The e-mail message preferably includes a hyperlink to a web page related to the customer request. Interested vendors may then supply vendor related information (e.g., price and delivery). If the customer locates a vendor able to meet the customer's needs, the customer may select the vendor to complete the purchase via the broker server.

Abstract: Detailed information about a particular used motor vehicle is quickly provided to a potential buyer having a personal digital assistant equipped with a receiving means. To provide the information, it is first necessary to obtain standard information about used motor vehicle values in digital form from a provider of such information. It is then necessary to obtain specific information about an inventory of used motor vehicles from the owner or seller of the vehicles. The standard information and the specific information are then integrated on a server computer and transmitted to the potential buyer.

Abstract: A method and system for selecting potential bidders or suppliers for a current electronic auction by using quantitative models to create a prioritized list of potential suppliers. A prioritization software analyzes a supplier's bidding participation history and bidding competitiveness history from the bidding data collected for all prior auctions in which the supplier participated or was requested by the auction coordinator to participate. Using the prior bid data, the software generates a participation score and a competitiveness score for the supplier. The participation and competitiveness scores may be combined to generate a combined score. All potential suppliers may be prioritized based on any of these scores individually or a combination of two or more of these scores.